Spring structure.



W. VAN MIDDLESWORTH.

SPRING STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 19, 1911.

LlZEQSQ., i Patented Dec.26,1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

miran srarss PATENT, cerros.

WILLIAM VAN MIDDLESWORTH, 0F CENTERVILLE, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE- HALF T0 OZELLO E. HUNT, GF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

' SPRING STRUCTURE.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led September 19, 1911. Serial No. 650,133,

To all whom it may concern: j

Be it known lthat I, WILLIAM VAN Mn)- DLEswoR'rH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Centerville, in the county of St. Joseph and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement. Iin Spring Structures, of which the following is a specification. A

l This invention relates particularly to spring-structures, such as bed-springs, springs for sofas-,acushions etc.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a spring-structure of the character indicated which is durable, possesses a high degree of resilience, and affords a kclosemesh top-surface or outer surface for contact with the mattress proper, .or with the pad or fabric whichI may be used in connection with the spring-structure, as 'the-case may be.

The invention is illustrated in its preferred embodiment` in the 4accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a fragmentary plan view of a 'springstructure embodying the invention; Fig. 2, a broken vertical section, taken as indicated at line 2 of Fig, 1; Fig. 3, a broken vertical section taken asv indicated at line 3 of Fig. 1; 'Fi 1t, a broken sectional view showing a modication; and Fig. 5, a broken section taken as indicated at line 5 of Fig. 4.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, the construction, as there shown, v.comprises upliolstering-springs 1 ranged in ,longitudinal and transverse rows; to -rods 2 mounted on the end-rings of the springs 1 and affording guides at their extremities; resilient spacers 3 having their convolutions threaded onto the end-rings of the springs 1 and embracing the guide-portions of the members 2; and diagonally-disposed tie-rods 4 occupying the junctions of the spaces between the longitudinal rows and the transverse rows of the springs 1.k

The upholstering springs 1 may be of any desired form. The form shown is' the hour-glass form, which is very commonly employed. In this form there are end-rings 5 of lar er. diameter than the intermediate convolutions Avof the coils. In the present construction',- the extremities of `the wires formin the end-rings are.not knotted, but

it will e understood that this is not an essential feature of the invention.

There are, preferably, `two cross-members 2 f r each end-ring, these crossmembers being disposed at rightrangles to each other and extending diametrically across the end' ring. Except atthe margin of the structure,-

where the end-rings are bounded by marginal rods 6, the members 2, whichpreferably lie on top of and serve as ties for 'the end'- rings, have their extremities 'bent down` -wardly and recurved about the end-rings to ali-'ord portions 7, which are substantially parallel with the body-'portions of the members 2,thus forming guides for the relatively small coils of which thev resilient spacers y3 consist. Each end-ring is struck inwardly in its. own` plane at four points, as indicated at 8, for engagement with the end-portions Patented nee. acl, ieri;

of the members 2. At the outer ends.

-braced,` both on its inner -side and outer side,

byy convolutions of the springs as will be readily understood by Fi 2, so that the end-rings will notonly he tied together, but will' be spaced vand stayed withv relation tir-each other. That is, they will be resiliently tied together and also resiliently held apart by the manner of engagement with the convolut-ions of the springs 3. The members 7 are disposed sufficiently-beneath the bodyportions of the members 2, so that with the s 'f all coils 3 employed the lupper or outer po ions of the coils will lie practically flush with the outer 'surface of the spring-structure. In other words., there wlll be no objectionable projection of the springs 3 above the general outer surface-of t e spring-structure. vThe extremityA 10 of each end-ring, when left free, is bent downwardly or inwardly slightly, as will be understood by reference to Fig. 5, so that there will be no danger of its projecting in a manner to tear ,the mattress or covering which may be placed upon the spring-strncture. It will be noted that Where Ythe con'- nection vis made with the end-ring near the extremity the convolutions of the coils 3..

not only embrace. .the free extremity ofthe wire, but also vembrace'the'adjacent wire at the point. ofy overlapping, so that the ex,-

ftremity ofthe'fend-ring is thereby tied4 to lthe body of the end-ring. Instances are infdicated at the points 11 in Fig; 1.

JThe tie-rods 4 preferabl lcomprise short pieces -of wlre havin hoo ed end-portions` .which engage the en rings,.'the extremities of the'hooked portions bemg turned down# wardly or inwardly and 'recurved The v members 4 may bel made slightly shorter .'thanthe spaces which the are to lill and thecoil-springs' 3 may be p aced undercompression whlle the memberst are beingv applied, sol that there will be no tendency for fat 12 in Fig.` 2, so that there will Vbe no the members 4 to 'become disengaged,feveu 'though the hooked portions .are not closedl It is'obvious-that the end-rings may be v'spaced with relationl to each other at Aany desired Adistance by adjustment of the coilsprings 3. After the adjustment .isn made 1tv is preferred to' bend or distort the endl convolutions of the springs 3, as. indicated tendency for the connections to work loose.

In 'the modification shown in Figs, 4: and 5, the upholstering springs are designated la; the members which cross the end-rings,

v.are designated 2a; and the resilient spacers are designated 3,A In this form, the members Saare of larger diameterthan in the x form above described, and" the extremities ofthe members-2a are givenA 'a doublefbend,I thus forming the parts 7*? and 7b, which are located below the Iplane of the end-ring, l so that the coil-spring 3, notwithstanding cated at 12% its 4larger diameter, will have its outer or top portion substantially iush with thev general outer surface of the spring-structure. In Fig. 45,- the'end-portionof the member l3** is shown bent or distorted, as indi- L'From the foregoin .description Ait will be l readily understood t at the inventionp'ro` vides 'ahighly resilient structure which is adapted to yield lto stresses in every direction, 'thereby yincreasing the durability vof the structure, obviating breakage, and enhancing. the lcomfortableness ofthe structurey in' use. Moreover,l thel structure affords comparatively close-mesh outer' surfaces, sothat the mattress, pad or covering -will be supported at vclose intervals, thus enhancing the life ofthe covering, as well as affording substantial support to the person.y Again, 'a structure having upholstering springsresiliently tied and'staye'd with relationto each other in 4the manner setA forth isz-adapted to so distribute the strains upon it as to render it feasible to use smaller gage wire in the formation of the .upholstering springs? f The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no undue limitation should be understood therefrom, but the appended Iclaims should bel construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

What I regard as new and` desire to Se- -cure by Letters Patent is t y l. In .a spring-structure of the character set forth, the combination with upholster ing springs provided with end-rings, of transverse guides on said end-rings, and relatively small coil-springs having convolutions spirally engaging said end-rings' land embracing said guides. I

-2. In -a spring-structure of the character set forth, lthe combination with upholster- I ing 4springs provided with end-rings, of transverse wires crossing said end-rings andV having bent end-portions affording guides, and connecting coils having spiral engagement with said `end-rings and embracing said guides.

In a structure of the character set` forth, the combination with upholsteringsprings having end-rings, provided with indents, Aof cross-wires crossing said end rings and having their extremities bent intoy engagement with said indents, and con-v`v provided with' end-rings, cross-rods on said ,110

end-rings, coil-springs connecting said endrings and having spiral engagement therewith and -embracing the end-portions of said cross-rods, and diagonally-disposed tierods connecting said end-rings atthe junctions of the spaces between the longitudinal rows and transverse rows.

. WILLIAM VAN MIDDLESWQRTH. In presence of- L. A. CLAPP,

H. C. KAAS. 

